Sport

WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' FOOTBALL: Town keep grip on top spot

SWINDON Town Ladies cemented their position at the top of the South West Combination League with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Keynsham Development.

Georgia Walters scored twice while Beth Thompson and Ellie Maynard also found the net in the victory which proved a fitting send-off for Chantelle Lovell who is leaving the club to join the RAF.

Town made a good start but Keynsham’s Dana Minhall ran clear which forced Lovell to chase back to clear the danger.

Thompson and Maynard combined for Amy Baker to shoot and force Keynsham keeper Irana Miljkovic to save low before Walters made a tricky run through the visiting defence but fired wide of the mark.

Michelle Rich almost caught the home keeper out of position but her lob dropped just wide of the goal, while Town keeper Robyn Levett was kept on her toes following a drive from Yazmin Laver.

At the other end, Thompson cut in from the Town right but her cross was eventually scrambled clear before Lever’s shot was again held by Levett.

Keeper Miljkovic picked up a knock and was replaced at the interval by Daisy Pearce- Lyons, but the substitute was well-beaten by Town’s first shot of the second half as Rich fired in a drive which bounced back off the post.

The Town pressure eventually told, four minutes into the second period when Maynard slipped in Walters to give the hosts the lead and the advantage was soon doubled when Walters grabbed her second from Rich’s pass.

Town were well in control before Thompson tapped in Kelly Nightingale’s low cross and the rout was complete when Amy Baker’s shot was pushed into the path of Maynard who applied the finish.

The Robins’ reserve game against Trowbridge in the Wiltshire County League was postponed.

SWINDON Spitfires Under 17s returned to action in explosive fashion with a 20-0 win over Wantage in the Oxford Girls League.

After a four week lay-off, Spits forged ahead in the second minute when a Wantage defender turned home a Sarah Uzzell cross.

Uzzell netted the second and her team rattled in a further eight goals before half-time, including four inside four minutes midway through the period.

The second half saw Spitfires double the score and goalkeeper Becky Kench fired home the 20th at the far post.